Thursday, September 23, 2010

In 1906 when Swaminathan was in fourth form, the students were arranging to stage the Shakespearean play ‘King John’ for the annual day celebrations. They could not find a right person to play the lead role of Prince Arthur. The Principal remembered twelve year old Swaminathan. He called him and asked him to take up the role. Swaminathan was very happy that the principal asked him to play the role. Swaminathan conveyed the principal’s message to his parents and requested them to stitch the appropriate costume for the character. His conservative parents did not want their son to act in a play. However they did not have the heart to reject their favourite son’s aspirations. So, they gave their permission to Swaminathan’s acting in the play and also contributed towards his costumes. Swaminathan memorized all the dialogues of the play in just two days. Swaminathan performed exceptionally well and got the commendation of all. He got applause for his monologues and acting ended up getting the first prize for this play. The teachers visited Shastrigal’s house the next morning and conveyed their appreciation for Swaminathn’s performance in the play.

Guru’s Darshan

In the year of Vishwavasu (1906) young Swaminathan’s father Sri Subramania Shastrigal took his family with him to obtain the darshan of then Sankaracharya, Sri Chandrasekarendra Sarasvati the 66th Peedathipathi of the Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt. He was camping in a small town called Perumukkal, near Tindivanam. The acharya while performing his nithya puja, bestowed his benevolent grace upon young Swaminathan. After the conclusion of the puja, the Swamigal spoke to Subramania Shastrigal and made kind enquiries about his family. Perhaps he saw in this boy, a worthy successor to himself who was fit to adorn the Kamakoti Peetam.

The events that unfolded after this first meeting make us wonder whether the Swamigal had made the decision at that moment itself. Sri Subramania Shastrigal and his family stayed on in Perumukkal for two days to get the benefit of Swamigal’s continued darshan. During this occasion, the Acharya interacted closely with young Swaminathan and asked him many questions. Pleased with the young boy’s brilliance and attractive personality, Sri Acharya was heard commenting “He will turn out to be a Maha Purusha”. Hearing this, his father’s pleasure new no bounds. However he had absolutely no inkling that his 13 year old son would be leaving him and his family soon to obtain sanyaas.

He took leave from the Acharya and returned to Tindivanam where he was stationed for work. The Acharya had meanwhile, requested Sri Subramania Shastrigal to bring Swaminathan frequently to the Mutt. As per his request, Shastrigal took his son several times to get Acharya’s darshan. During these frequent meetings, the grace of the Guru started flowing in full abundernce over young Swaminathan. One day Swaminathan was found missing from his house in Tindivanam. His parents were very anxious and they searched everywhere including wells and ponds in the vicinity. But he was nowhere to be found. His parents were beside themselves with anxiety, unable to eat or sleep. Two days later, a messenger came from Acharya’s camp which was five miles away. He conveyed the news that Swaminathan had come there for the Acharya’s darshan on his own and he was safe. He added that the Acharya had sent him to convey this message to the parents. One cannot measure the relief and happiness of his parents and friends on hearing the news. Swaminathan was sent home from the mutt two days later.

2. Voice of the God – Teachings of Mahaperiyava

"Advaitham”

Adisankara Bhagavadpada says that Jivathma and Paramathma (Brahman) are one. That is, he says we are Brahman ourselves. Hiranyakashipu also claimed, ‘I am God’. But it so happened, that God in the form of Narasimha had to destroy him. When the Acharya says “We are Brahman”, is it the same as what Hiranyakashipu claimed? No. Not at all. When Hiranyakashipu claimed, ‘I am God’ it was a egoistic statement meaning that there was no God other than he himself. But, Bhagavadpada by declaring that there is nothing else other than God, means that we are also God. He says if the jivan (individual soul) gives up his ego he dissolves himself in Brahman and becomes Brahman itself. We are now like a spoonful of water with a little power. God with infinite power is like the Ocean. The spoonful of water came from that Ocean. This spoonful of water has to dissolve the ego that is a separate entity and mix with the Ocean and become one with it.

If we are not Brahman, we should be something other than Brahman. If that be so, it would mean that there are things other than Paramathma. In other words, it would mean that Paramathma is one among many things. It would mean that these many things came into existence in a manner unrelated to Paramathma. If so, to say that He is the Paramathma and the Lord of everything will be inappropriate. He is the Lord only if He is the sole power above everything. When we say that He is everything can we be different? Therefore it is not the Adhvaitis who, for all outward appearance, claim as if with ego ‘We are Brahman’ that belittle the greatness of the Lord. On the other hand, it is those who, with all humility, declare that Jivan is not the Lord, Jivan is small, the Lord is very great, they are different from the Lord inadvertently make the Lord one among many and thus minimize His greatness.

If it is said that He is everything, we ought to be Him also. He who is like the Ocean also is the water in the river, in the pond, in the well, in a beg vessel, in a small vessel and in a spoon. He has divided His power into small little figures and presents Himself as several Jivas. He has so designed the order that as a human being the Jiva will experience good and evil and in the state in which he crosses these limitations, he will become Himself. When becoming a man He gives him a mind and makes it indulge in good and bad deeds and experience the result of the same.

When the mind is unstable we cannot at one stretch, reach the state where the good and bad are absent and realize He indeed is ourselves. Therefore, eventhough He is we ourselves, for us to experience it, we have to pray for His Grace. In the beginning we have to think that we are so small and He is so big that He is the Ocean and we are spoonful of water and practice devotion to Him.

It is the mind which the Lord has given us that creates the distinction between Him and us. The mind cannot be destroyed in one go. So in our present state, we should use the mind to fix it on Him alone. The mind which He has created is like a monkey. That monkey has caught hold of the body. But, the Lord has created this body as one that would decay and perish. This monkey of a mind should give up its grip over a fruit that is decaying. If a monkey spots a good fruit, it will drop the bad one which it is holding. The fruit which is sweet and will not decay is Paramathma alone. We should strive to get hold of that fruit and gradually give up consciousness about the body. It is for this purpose that devotion, puja, pilgrimage etc., have been prescribed.

Evolving higher and higher with these aids, if the body consciousness and ego are totally destroyed, the notion that He is Paramathma and we are Jivathma will disappear and we will attain the advaithic state of He being ourselves. This is the state which Saint Arunagirinathar refers to when he says ‘A state in which you are not different from me and I am not different from you.’ Let us attain that state and experience it.

3. Mahaperiyava Miracles

Fruit of Love

Once there was a huge crowd to have the darshan of Mahaperiyava. Suddenly there was some fuss in the crowd and there entered a Big Shot along with his assistants. His assistants were carrying the offerings bustling with noise asking everyone there to pave the way for the Big Shot and his spouse. Someone from the Mutt Assistant introduced the Big Shot to Mahaperiyava. The Big Shot offered his obeisance and placed the fruits he had brought in front of Mahaperiyava.

Mahaperiyava asked, “What these are?”

“My offering to Periyava” replied the big shot.

Periyava smiled and replied “I am a sanyasi and I don’t eat fruits”

Bigshot was now perplexed.

Mahaperiyava called one of his attendant and asked him to distribute the fruits outside.

Manypeople were standing in the queue carrying fruits in their hands. Everybody started thinking that Periyava is not going to accept the fruits which they have brought as an offering to Mahaperiyava. One such person carrying some fruits in his hands was standing along with his wife thought that Periyava is going to reject his offerings also and was slightly worried.

When his turn came he placed the fruits in the tray before periyava and paid his obeisance with sincere devotion.

Mahaperiyava smiled at him and asked his attendant to take it inside the Mutt and said “the big shot person who came now would have brought the fruits which has been already been given to him by those who want their work to get done through this person and hence I rejected the fruits” having blessed the person.

No need to tell that the person was in tears.

Mahaperiyava never let down any body who have approached him with pure love.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Am glad to present the 5th article under the “Endaro Mahanubavulu” series. This article dwells about the 17th Century Tamil Poet “Kumaraguruparar”. I was surprised to find that a Tamil Saivite scholar hailing from the banks of Tampiraparani succeeded in opening a Mutt in North India. His achievement is a monumental example of religious and linguistic harmony inherent in the Indian culture.

Pamban Swamigal who earned the title Kumaraguruparadasar for his laudable composition of intricate verses while staying in the Mutt established by Kumaguruparar in Kasi, was blessed with sacred cloths in a mysterious way by a devotee of Saint Kumaraguruparar. Mahatma Gandhi who began to learn Tamil when he was in South Africa seemed to have read Kumaraguruparar’s ‘Neethi Neri Vilakkam’. In the course of his visit to Tamilnadu when a young volunteer asked for an autograph he wrote from the very opening verse of ‘Neethi Neri Vilakkam’ that ‘Human body is similar to writing on the water’ (Neeril Ezhuthaagum Yaakai). ‘Neethi Neri Vilakkam’ was also hailed by G.U. Pope the Christian Missionary from Europe who translated ‘Thirukural’ and ‘Thiruvasagam’ into English as one of best work which disseminates ethical values to the society. Kumaragurupar was also hailed by Tamil Poets like Subramania Bharati, Bharatidasan and Puthumaipithan. Kumaraguruparar’s ‘Sakalakalavalli Malai’ sung on Goddess Sarasvati will give wisdom to those who recites with devotion. His ‘Kandar Kali Venba’ is a popular recitation among the devotees of Lord Muruga.

I was excited to know about the Moghul Emperor Dara Shikoh who lived during Kumaragurupar’s time was a patron of all religions. In seeking to find a common mystical lanugage between Islam and Hinduism, Dara Shikoh commissioned the translation of many Upanaishads from Sanskrit into Persian. However I was shocked to find that he was later killed by his own brother Aurangzeb.

I would like to thank personally my friend Sri Ramanarayanan, who kept telling me to write an article about Saint Kumaraguruparar which is now in your hands.

Please readon to know more about the divine life history of Sri Kumaraguruparar.

Happy Reading!

A.V. DevanChennai – 14/09/2010

PS – For the benefit of the readers the devotional poems by Kumaraguruparar i.e. Kandar Kali Venba, Sakalakala Valli Maalai and Neethi Neri Villakam is attached for recitation. [Thanks to Project Madurai e-Literature]

Sri Kumaraguruparar

Divine Grace of Tiruchendur Murugan

In the 17th Century there lived a devout couple Shanmuga Sikamani Kavirayar and Sivakama Sundari Ammayar in a small village called Srivaikuntam which is situated on the northern bank of River Thamirabarani. Srivaikuntam is sacred as it hosts both ‘Nava Kailasam’ and ‘Nava Tirupathi’ temples. River Thamirabarani is very sacred as in its banks are situated both the Nava Kailasam and Nava Tirupathi temples. The town is situated about 30 KM east of Thirunelveli and 30 KM west of Tiruchendur located in the Tuticorin District of Tamilnadu. They belong to Saiva Vellalar Community. Kavirayar means one who is capable of writing poems and hymns and hence we can presume that Shanmuga Kavirayar must be the person who should be capable of composing devotional poems. [We will come to know through his Son later!] The Couple did not have child for long. This made them to go near by Tiruchendur to worship Lord Muruga. As a result of their sincere devotion to Lord Muruga they were blessed with a Son in the year 1625 who was named “Kumaraguruparar”. Even though they were relieved of sorrow they were to face yet another problem. They child with no signs of sound coming from the child the parents suspected whether the child was dumb and hence they reached Tiruchendur again in front of Lord Muruga to relieve their pain. By the divine miracle the child started uttering ‘Kandar Kali Venba’ which became a popular recitation among the devotees of Lord Muruga. He also composed Kailai Kalambagam on the Srikailasanathar temple situated in Srivaikuntam. His parents were later blessed with one more child who was known as Kumarasami Kavirayar.

Composing of Meenakshi Amman Pillai Thamizh

Kumaraguruparar studied Tamil at the feet of his father Shanmuka Sikhamani Kavirayar and attained great proficiency by the divine grace. He was invited to adorn the Chair of Court Poet by Thirumalai Nayakar, the then ruler of Madurai. He composed ‘Meenakshi Amman Pillai Thamizh’ describing childhood stages of Goddess Meenakshi one stage a day. While Singing ‘Muthhap-Paruvam’ Goddess Meenakshi herself came as a young girl and bestowed Her grace by presenting a pearl garland to him. Kumaraguruparar also sang Madhurai Kalambakam, It is said on the request of Thirumalai Nayakkar he also composed a song book of ethics called as “Neethi Neri Vilakkam”.

In Search of Guru

Kumaraguruparar took to an austere way of life, left home and wandered throughout the tamil country visiting famous places of pilgrimage and composing poems on presiding deities. When in Tiruchendur he heard a divine voice that his guru would be the one in whose presence he will be unable to speak. From Tiruchendur he went ahead to Thiruvarur, where he sang Thiruvarur Nanmani Malai praising the grace of Lord Thyagarajar. From Thiruvaur he moved to Dharmapuram which is seat of renowned Adheenam (Mutt) of the Saiva Siddantha “Thirukkayilaya Paramparai Dharmapuram Adheenam”.

The mutt was headed by Srilasri Masilamani Desigar. Arriving at the mutt Kumaraguruparar paid his obeisance to the sanit. Desigar asked Kumaraguruparar to explain the significance of the song Ainthu Perarivum Kankale Kolla from Periyapuranam. This is the song which describes the state of Sundaramurthi Nayanar as he saw the dance of Lord Shiva at Thillai Chidambaram. The song which narrates the ecstasy of Sundarar upon seeing the blissful dance of the Lord which is very difficult to describe and Kumaraguruparar was stunned and his words stammered and realized that he is standing in front of his Guru and fell at the feet of Desigar and pleaded him to initiate him in the renounced life.

Desikar agreed to be his Guru but with a condition that he goes on a pilgrimage to Kasi and returns. During that period the north India was invaded by Muslim rulers and Hinduism was getting crushed under the Mogul empire. Desikar realized the need for a spiritually high, well skilled and devoted caliber like Kumaraguruparar to strengthen the Saivite wisdom in the troubled lands. Kumaraguruparar pleaded to Desikar that it would take long time for him to complete the pilgrimage to Kasi given the lack of facilities at that point in time to commute. Hence Desikar agreed with Kumaraguruparar however asked him to stay at Thillai Chidambaram for a period of one Mandalam i.e. 48 days. Kumaragurupar happily agreed for this and proceeded to Thillai Chidambaram. On the way divinity called him to Vaitheeswaran Kovil where he sang ‘Muthukumaraswami Pillai Tamizh’. Kumaraguruparar enjoyed the stay at Thillai worshipping the dancing Lord. At Chidambaram He composed Chidambara Mummani Kovai, Chidambara Cheyyut Kovai, Sivakami Ammai Irratai Mani Malai. On his return Desikar initiated him to the renounced order of life by offering Sanyasa at Dharmapuram. He later composed ‘Pandara Mummani Kovai’ in praise of his Guru. Having given the initiation Desikar stressed him the importance of strengthening Shaivism in the northern part of the country where it was suffering from the oppression by the Muslim rulers and now Kumaraguruparar agreed to go to Varanasi.

Meeting Dhara Sikhoh, the Mughal Emperor

It was in 1658 AD and Dara Shikoh was the ruler of the Varanasi province of the Moghul empire. Dhara Sikhoh was the eldest son of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. He was an exceptional one in the Mughals. He studied all the religions, learnt the yogic practices and sufi methods of meditation and wrote the immortal work “Majmua-Ul-Bahrain” meaning the Mingling of the two oceans. In seeking to find a common mystical lanugage between Islam and Hinduism, Dara Shikoh commissioned the translation of many Upanaishads from Sanskrit into Persian and even personally participated in some of these renderings. He was favoured as a successor by his father and his sister Jahanara Begum, but was defeated by his younger brother Aurangzeb in a bitter struggle for the Mughal throne. If the conspiracies had not succeeded in defeating and murdering him, Indian history would have taken a different turn. He was tolerant enough to seek what the other religions have to say and encouraged among the religions. He dealt with respect the scholars of Hindu religion . He is said to have translated some of the Upanishads into Persian Language. Before Dara Shikoh the Holy city of Kashi was ruined by the Muslim invaders and demolished the abode of Lord Vishvanath.

Kumaragurupar reached Varanasi or Kashi at this period and sung Sakalaklavalli Malai in praise of Goddess Sarasvati praying her to bestow the skill of words. The blessings of Vani came as the boon when he had to convince the opponents about the glory of the Shaivism. He got to know Hindustani language by Vani’s grace. Kumaraguruparar wanted to meet with the Badusha in order to establish a Mutt in Kashi. Though Dara Sikoh was fair with other religions Kumaraguruparar had to cross many obstacles to meet Dara.

The blessed saint who had the valiance of the spirituality rode over a lion and went majestically into the court of Dara with all obstacle creators frightened. Dara realized the spiritual power of Saint Kumaraguruparar. He showed his respect to the saint. Dara had organized an inter religious conference. He requested the saint to address the same. Kumaraguruparar accepted the invitation and he spoke fluently in Hindustani language explaining the greatness of the philosophy of Saiva Siddantha. The audience were thrilled to know the glory of Shaivism. Dara Sikoh bowed down to the Saint and venerated him.

Services to Shaivism

Dara Sikoh asked Kumaraguruparar what he could do for him. He asked the king to provide him with the land in Kashi where he can build a Mutt and serve Saivism. The King gave the option of the place to Saint himself. The Saint wanted to renovate the Kedarishvara Swamy temple at the Kedhar Ghat. Kumaraguruparar said there would be a Kite that would fly above the spot whatever be the area that it circuits in the sky that should be given to him to build the Mutt. The Kite appeared in the sky and marked the area that included the Kedarishvarar Temple and the land for building a Mutt. Dara happily gave that land. Kumaraguruparar renovated the abode of Kedareshvar which was earlier ruined due to the religious intolerants.

He also established the Kumaraswamy Mutt and guided the people in the glory of Saivite philosophy. His inspiring teachings paved way for the restoration of the highly adored Lord Vishvanath and Lord Panduranga temples subsequently. The devotees offered lots of valuables to the saint. He took them to his guru at Dharmapuram. But Desikar denied to accept them and directed him to spend those for the spiritual development of the people of Kashi. He visited Dharmapuram four times to pay respect to his Guru. In Tamil Nadu he paved the way to build another Kasi Mutt at Thirupanandhal in Kumbakonam District. Kumaraguruparar while in Kasi also had sung ‘Kasi Thundi Vinayagar Pathigam’ and ‘Kasi Kalambakam’. It is said Kumaraguruparar also gave discourses on Kamba Ramayanam and among those who got inspired by that were the famous Hindi Poet Tulasi Das who wrote Ramcharitamanas. Kumaraguruparar stayed in Kasi for thirty years from 1658 to 1688 spreading the glory of Saivism giving the vital support to the Hinduism that needed support during those troubled periods.

He attained Samadhi at Kasi on the third day after fullmoon day in May 1688. His vital services for the sustenance of Hinduism will be remembered along with his beautiful compositions by the generations of devotees.

Friday, September 3, 2010

I offer my sincere salutations and obeisance to crocodiles without them we wouldn’t have realized the Bhakti of Gajendra, or the Jnana of Adisankara nor the devotion of Sundaramurthy Nayanar. The crocodiles played an important role in bringing out the hidden secrets of these devotees through the divine grace. I pray my sincere obeisance to the crocodiles!

Gajendra cried “Adimoolame” when it was caught by the crocodile and Lord Vishnu flew immediately leaving everything at standstill without even informing Mahalakshmi to save Gajendra. We wouldn’t have known the rescue speed of the Lord hence I offer my humble pranams to the crocodiles!

The Alligator caught Adisankara who used the incident to get permission from her Mother to become a Sanyasi without which we wouldn’t have got the Jagadguru Sri AdiSankara. I offer my humble pranams to the crocodile which helped us to know the Advaita Philosophy.

A boy who was killed by the crocodile was later on miraculously brought to life after the divine intervention of Sundarar without which we wouldn’t have known the divinity of Sundarar. I pray my thousand pranams to the crocodile.

In this article we are going to see the miraculous incident that took place in a small town called ‘Avinashi’ where the last incident took place. I had been to Avinashi quite a few occasions where my Athai (Fathers elder sister) lives and visited the Avinashiyappar temple on many occasions.Please read on the article to know more about how Sundaramurthy Nayanar redeemed the life of a boy! It may be hard to believe the puranic incidents, but even today the miracle continues for those who believes and they experiences it.

Please experience the bliss!

A.V. DevanChennai1.9.2010

The Temple of Avinashi

Avinashi is situated about 40 Kms from Coimbatore. The word ‘Avinashi’ means that which is indestructible. The Lord here is known as Avinashi Eswarar or Kediliyappar and Goddess is known as Karunambika whose sanctum is to the right side of Lord’s Sanctum is a rare phenomenon as in most of the temples it is situated on the left side.

Avinashi is one among the seven Shiva temples sung by the Nalvar [padal petra sthalam] in the Kongu region. Avinashi is also known as Dakshina Varanasi or Thiruppukoliyur. Tirumular’s Thirumanthiram, Arunagirinathar’s Thirupuggazh and Manickkavasagar’s Thiruvasagam refer to this shrine. The inscriptions in the temple reveal that the Cholas, Pandyas and the Hoysalas have made extensive endowments to the temples.

Sundaramoorthy Nayanar on his way to Tiruvanchikulam is said to have miraculously rescued a boy from the clutches of a crocodile, in Tamaraikkulam here & this event is commemorated during the 'Mudalai Vaai Pillai' Utsavam on Panguni Uththiram.

Sundaramuthy Nayanar

Sundaramurthy nayanar is one among the four primary saivaite saints who lived during 8th Century. Sundarar had sung the glories of Lord Shiva at all the sacred places that he visited. These hymns sung by Thirugnana Sambandar, Thirunavukkarasar (Appar) and Sundarar is called as “Thevaram” while that of sung by Manickavasagar is referred as “Thiruvasagam”.

Sundarar had the Sakhya Bhava or the attitude of friend towards the Lord. He freely demanded the Lord whatever he wanted. Sundarar was always seen in the bridegroom posture due to the divine intervention of the Lord during his marriage. The Lord enacted a drama during his marriage and came as an old person claiming that Sundarar is a slave as per the will given by his forefathers. Then the Lord took him to Thiru-Arul-Thurai and vanished in the sanctum sanctorum and the divine voice ordained him to write devotional hymns on the Lord with the starting word as “Pitha” (meaning mad – since Sundarar shouted at the old person during the arguments).

Sundarar is also a friend of Cheraman Perumal Nayanar another Royal devotee of the Lord. In the company of Cheraman Perumal Nayanar went on several pilgrimages and met many of the Kings of South India.

Redeeming the life from the Crocodile (Mudalaivai Pillai)

Sundaramoorthy Nayanar while on his way to meet Cheramaan Peruman Nayanar happened to pass through Avinashi. As he was passing through one of the streets, he saw two houses one fully auspicious and the other one with deep sadness. He heard two discordant notes coming from opposite houses, one echoing joy and another sorrow.

On enquiry, Sundarar learnt how two Brahmin boys of the same age, from these two houses went to tank for a bath and how one of them was caught by a crocodile, and the other escaped, providentially. The latter was being invested with the sacred thread that day, and hence, the auspicious sound from that house While the parents of the dead boy were unable to bear their sorrow. Had their boy been alive, they too would be celebrating his "Upanayanam".

Intensely moved by this, Sundaramoorthy Nayanar went to the tank where the boy was killed by the alligator and poured out of soulful song [pathigam] praying to Lord Shiva to resurrect the dead child and Lo! His prayer was answered.

The empty tank started surging with water from which emerged the crocodile and ejected the child as a fully grown boy of 8 years. To the wonder of all, the boy was much more handsome than when he met with the accident, and he showed signs of growth, appropriate to the lapse of time. All were amazed at this miracle of Sundarar. The parents of the boy were immensely pleased and embraced Sundarar's feet. Sundarar took the boy to the temple and worshipped Lord Avinasiappar. Sundarar himself performed the sacred thread ceremony for the boy.